COVID-19: Japan to reopen to international visitors from 1 March 2022

Unfortunately, tourists will need to wait. Japan is only opening for business travellers and students NOT tourists who have been triple vaccinated and test negative within 72 hours of arrival.

If you’re coming from a country where COVID-19 is under control, then you will only need to quarantine for 3 days.

However, arrivals are still capped but will rise from 3,500 to 5,000 per day

Once the borders do open, and certainly when they start accepting tourists, expect Qantas to fly to Haneda Airport, Tokyo from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. They will be joined by JAL and ANA operating direct flights

Once the Japanese border opens, Qantas, JAL and ANA are ready for takeoff.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

Unfortunately, international travellers will miss Sakura (Cherry Blossom) season for 2022, but Japan is worth visiting at any time.